Bob Duff: Howard providing food for thought Could the continued strong play of Jimmy Howard at the world championship give the Red Wings pause when they consider which goalie to protect in the NHL expansion draft?

I'm much less convinced that Mrazek is the "goalie of the future" today than I was one year ago. But even if Mrazek isn't the long-term answer in the pipes for Detroit, Jimmy Howard almost certainly isn't either. He had great numbers this year, yes, but we're only talking 26 games and 675 shots. In the last decade or so in Detroit, we've seen plenty of bad goaltenders get hot and put up brief stretches of average-to-above-average play (Conklin, MacDonald, Gustavsson ...). None of them had much of a pedigree of success, and none of them were able to sustain better than replacement-level play (in Detroit or elsewhere) after their hot streaks wore off.

Howard is better than any of those guys, but he's also 33, has a massive contract, and even with this year's great play factored in is still a below-average NHL goaltender statistically over the last four years. Maybe this season was the start of a renaissance for him, but I think it's far more likely he'll revert to form. And even a new and improved Jimmy isn't going to be good enough to make this team legitimately competitive over the remainder of his contract.

Having said all that, I think the point may very well be moot. There's no guarantee Vegas will claim a goaltender from Detroit, and frankly regardless of whether Mrazek or Howard gets exposed, Vegas will still likely have better (or at least safer) options elsewhere (though I think Mrazek would be the more likely of the two to be claimed due to higher upside and lower financial risk). I would not at all be surprised if both guys are splitting duty again next season.

They both suck.

I'm much less convinced that Mrazek is the "goalie of the future" today than I was one year ago. But even if Mrazek isn't the long-term answer in the pipes for Detroit, Jimmy Howard almost certainly isn't either. He had great numbers this year, yes, but we're only talking 26 games and 675 shots. In the last decade or so in Detroit, we've seen plenty of bad goaltenders get hot and put up brief stretches of average-to-above-average play (Conklin, MacDonald, Gustavsson ...). None of them had much of a pedigree of success, and none of them were able to sustain better than replacement-level play (in Detroit or elsewhere) after their hot streaks wore off.

Howard is better than any of those guys, but he's also 33, has a massive contract, and even with this year's great play factored in is still a below-average NHL goaltender statistically over the last four years. Maybe this season was the start of a renaissance for him, but I think it's far more likely he'll revert to form. And even a new and improved Jimmy isn't going to be good enough to make this team legitimately competitive over the remainder of his contract.

Having said all that, I think the point may very well be moot. There's no guarantee Vegas will claim a goaltender from Detroit, and frankly regardless of whether Mrazek or Howard gets exposed, Vegas will still likely have better (or at least safer) options elsewhere (though I think Mrazek would be the more likely of the two to be claimed due to higher upside and lower financial risk). I would not at all be surprised if both guys are splitting duty again next season.
- Sven22

Agree completely Sven... neither one is ever going to help put this team in the "contender" category. I have to admit I am pretty disappointed in Mrazek after watching him develop / progress and win the Calder Cup as a rookie in GR.

Just got tickets for the Griffins / Barracuda May 26th game at the Van Andel. I'd say this this the best Griffins team I've seen since they won the Calder Cup. They're balanced scoring is pretty impressive. Got 4 good lines. I have zero information on San Jose Barracuda and how well they stack up against the Griffins. I just know they're a darn good team.

I'm much less convinced that Mrazek is the "goalie of the future" today than I was one year ago. But even if Mrazek isn't the long-term answer in the pipes for Detroit, Jimmy Howard almost certainly isn't either. He had great numbers this year, yes, but we're only talking 26 games and 675 shots. In the last decade or so in Detroit, we've seen plenty of bad goaltenders get hot and put up brief stretches of average-to-above-average play (Conklin, MacDonald, Gustavsson ...). None of them had much of a pedigree of success, and none of them were able to sustain better than replacement-level play (in Detroit or elsewhere) after their hot streaks wore off.

Howard is better than any of those guys, but he's also 33, has a massive contract, and even with this year's great play factored in is still a below-average NHL goaltender statistically over the last four years. Maybe this season was the start of a renaissance for him, but I think it's far more likely he'll revert to form. And even a new and improved Jimmy isn't going to be good enough to make this team legitimately competitive over the remainder of his contract.

Having said all that, I think the point may very well be moot. There's no guarantee Vegas will claim a goaltender from Detroit, and frankly regardless of whether Mrazek or Howard gets exposed, Vegas will still likely have better (or at least safer) options elsewhere (though I think Mrazek would be the more likely of the two to be claimed due to higher upside and lower financial risk). I would not at all be surprised if both guys are splitting duty again next season.
- Sven22

Good post Sven, I have preached those very same points about Howard from day 1.
The Free Press have been bragging about Howard's excellent goaltending in the USA net. But getting 9, 25,or 19 mostly low quality shots against in a game isn't exactly Vezina / MVP material.

Having said that, I hope Howard stands on his head for the rest of the World Championships. That way, and with a bit of luck, maybe Holland can make a

[quote=GeoffY]Good post Sven, I have preached those very same points about Howard from day 1.
The Free Press have been bragging about Howard's excellent goaltending in the USA net. But getting 9, 25,or 19 mostly low quality shots against in a game isn't exactly Vezina / MVP material.

Having said that, I hope Howard stands on his head for the rest of the World Championships. That way, and with a bit of luck, maybe Holland can make a decent trade.
Howard's contract is a burden, a huge white elephant that has to be dispensed with.

Mrazek will be fine.

Mrazek will be fine.
- Feds91Stammer

I'm hoping so... I'm still trying to be optimistic despite how inconsistent he was this year. Holland needs to leave Howard unprotected so we can dump his contract. I'd still be surprised if Vegas picked him up because of his age and horrible (typical Holland) contract.

Every team is going to lose something. You're fortunate if Vegas takes your 33 yr old goalie with a bad contract. Honestly, if I'm McPhee, i'm plucking Ryan Sproul.

Every team is going to lose something. You're fortunate if Vegas takes your 33 yr old goalie with a bad contract. Honestly, if I'm McPhee, i'm plucking Ryan Sproul.
- Max.Betts

Better off claiming whichever of Jensen or Ouellet is left exposed, but go ahead.

Mrazek will be fine.
- Feds91Stammer

I do hope you're right, and you could be. But man, even if you're playing the averages, one year makes a lot of difference:

Mrazek, before this season: .920 in 94 games / 83 starts / 2445 shots against. That is the equivalent of a very-good-to-great NHL starter in about a season and half worth of work.

Mrazek, now: .913 in 144 games / 127 starts / 3907 shots against. That is the equivalent of a league average NHL goaltender in about two seasons of work.

The difference is massive. Don't get me wrong, I think he's going to be a lot better next season, but before this year it wasn't too crazy to think he might develop into a perennial all-star. He could still get there, of course, but it's looking a lot more dicey than it did a year ago.

Agree completely Sven... neither one is ever going to help put this team in the "contender" category. I have to admit I am pretty disappointed in Mrazek after watching him develop / progress and win the Calder Cup as a rookie in GR.

Just got tickets for the Griffins / Barracuda May 26th game at the Van Andel. I'd say this this the best Griffins team I've seen since they won the Calder Cup. They're balanced scoring is pretty impressive. Got 4 good lines. I have zero information on San Jose Barracuda and how well they stack up against the Griffins. I just know they're a darn good team.
- Vladdie_Kon1

I'm thinking I might walk up and see if I can get some tickets to one of the Griffins games that weekend myself -- probably the Saturday game, unless the series is already over by then. (I live about a mile east of the Van Andel, so when the weather's nice it's pleasant enough to just stroll downtown.) They've definitely been fun to watch -- caught game 3 against the Wolves and they were outstanding pretty much from start to finish. Would be nice to see the Wings play 60 minutes without letting off the gas once in a while ...

[quote=GeoffY]Good post Sven, I have preached those very same points about Howard from day 1.

Howard's contract is a burden, a huge white elephant that has to be dispensed with.
- GeoffY

Facts-
Howard has 2 seasons left with a 5.2 cap hit (actual salary 5 mil this, 4.2 next). Mrazek has 1 yr left with a cap of 4 mil (actual salary 4.15) before he becomes a RFA - again. He is set to be a RFA at the same time Larkin and Mantha are. **Coreau will be a RFA as well.

Either way they go in net, it's a gamble. After reading this blog, do you really want to go with the guy who puts himself in front of everyone else/the team? It makes me wonder what happens next summer.

Facts-
Howard has 2 seasons left with a 5.2 cap hit (actual salary 5 mil this, 4.2 next). Mrazek has 1 yr left with a cap of 4 mil (actual salary 4.15) before he becomes a RFA - again. He is set to be a RFA at the same time Larkin and Mantha are. **Coreau will be a RFA as well.

Either way they go in net, it's a gamble. After reading this blog, do you really want to go with the guy who puts himself in front of everyone else/the team? It makes me wonder what happens next summer.
- Bren4Wings

This blog is MSM BS. Mrazek is the guy. He also isn't some dbag that doesn't care about the team.

This blog is MSM BS. Mrazek is the guy. He also isn't some dbag that doesn't care about the team.
- Feds91Stammer

Maybe, maybe not in regards to the blog.
It did make me stop and think of how things could play out next summer.

As to Vegas picking the goalie the Wings don't protect, I would guess the odds are slim when you know Pits is going to have to expose 1 of Fleury/Murray.

This blog is MSM BS. Mrazek is the guy. He also isn't some dbag that doesn't care about the team.
- Feds91Stammer

Mrazek better get some better defensive help then because he's not bailing us out.

Maybe, maybe not in regards to the blog.
It did make me stop and think of how things could play out next summer.

As to Vegas picking the goalie the Wings don't protect, I would guess the odds are slim when you know Pits is going to have to expose 1 of Fleury/Murray.
- Bren4Wings

With the playoffs that Fleury has had, Pittsburgh shouldn't have any problems trading him before the expansion draft. If he doesn't want to waive his no movement clause, they could trade Murray also.

Murray would probably fetch a really nice return and it's not like they would be dissapointed in having to keep Fleury. Calgary seems like a nice fit for a trade.

Either way, I don't see Pittsburgh losing one of them in the expansion draft.